PLANS for a 25ft statue of one of Tolkien's Ents to be sited on Moseley village green have split the Birmingham suburb.

Residents' groups and local businesses have backed the proposals for the "iconic" structure which they believe would attract people to the neighbourhood and put Moseley on the international map.

Heritage campaigners have objected to the size of the statue which they claim would be "over the top" for its location.

A planning application has been drawn up for the proposals, which have been designed by Tim Tolkien, great nephew of JRR Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings. The £30,000 would be raised through an internet sale of metalic leaves at the feet of the Ent. Tolkien fans would pay to have their names engraved on the leaves.

David Guest, chairman of Moseley Forum, is spearheading the plans for a statue to celebrate the writer's links with the community. He said: "The traders are very enthusiastic because they believe the statue would bring people into Moseley. We believe this statue would be internationally known and would also entice visitors to other local attractions associated with Tolkien, such as Sarehole Mill and Moseley Bog.

"We are hoping the statue would be built by next year."

Fiona Adams, who chairs the group, said: "We are not opposed to public art on the green, but we think it has to be in proportion.

"We would rather have something on a more human scale, not on the scale of a tree."